gotta get an MRI

jdoll

Cathlete
i am still having horrible headaches, so i have to get an MRI. can you tell me what to expect? i have never had one. TIA

jesx(
 
Hi, Jes. It wasn't that bad. I was IV'd and placed on a platform/gurney with my head in a sort of cage. They placed a couple of pads on each side of my head and locked them into place to keep my head still and clicked the top of the cage into place. I slid into the MRI machine. I had on headphones on with classical music. Could not hear the music when the images were takne though. The technician told me to be still and how long each series of images would take. It ranged from a minute to two-two and a half and was repeated 5 or 6 times. This was a control for a second set of images which were taken with a dye injected into the IV. The machine makes lots of noises. Clacks and clicks and pitches and tones and it vibrated but it was in no way painful. I closed my eyes and tried to stay relaxed and it was over in about 20 minutes.
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it, and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.

-Ann Landers
 
thanks Bobbi! i just got off the phone w/ my mother and she said, "you'll probably fall asleep like you do in the tanning bed." that would be ideal! i don't mind having to be still if i'm asleep. do you have to be still all over, or just your head? will they pull you out if you get claustrophobic?

jes
 
I had one ages ago and it was no fun as I recall. Whatever the I.V. was (iodine?) made me really nausious. I never throw up, and will do anything to avoid throwing up -huge fear with me- and I was majorly sick. It was also really strange because I could feel the solution going all through my veins, and it kind of burned. Hopefully you can handle it better than I did. Overall it was not bad, it was just that darn I.V..

I am not sharing to try and make you nervous but because you asked. I also believe that if you know what to expect there is less fear from the anxiety. At least that is what my Lamaze teacher taught us! Hee Hee!! The idea being that if you go into labor armed with what to expect, and how to breath through it, you are much better off. It may be better now because like I said before, mine was years ago.

And remember, you are a WOMAN!! We are tough!}(
 
What you described seems more like a cat scan or something. I have had multiple MRIs in the last year because of an accident. All were of the upper body. In some, I was slid into a tube with ear plugs and could still hear the clicking noises. That was the closed MRI. IN the open MRI, you lay on a bed, and then another huge scanner comes down. It is like you are the meat of a samdwich. I never got any injections or IVs. You have to remove all metal (except fillings!) and they put me in a hospital gown. I was allowed to keep on my underwear as long as no metal was in it. I last took an MRI about 6 months ago and have to have more in April. It really isn't that bad. The closed MRI can be horrible if you are claustrophobic. I hope that your headaches get better soon!!
 
I had a bulb in my hand I was to tug on if I wanted out for any reason. I was worried that I would not be still enough but even involuntary fluttering of my eyelids and some facial movement didn't get me into trouble. The tech said I did fine. I didn't find it claustrophobic at all. The injected dye caused a slight metallic taste in my mouth and a sensation of warmth but it didn't make me nausious. What type of headaches are you experiencing? I have had some tension headaches lately which are awful and may be the key to curing tinnitus if it turns out that the headaches, tension and tinnitus are a result of TMD as I have diagnosed myself. I was doing online research to try to figure out who to go to for a proper diagnosis and treatment when I popped over here and saw your post. My MRI was negative, ruling out a tumor but this tinnitus has baffled and bemused me and I feel your pain. Dani is right and the mention of Lamaze is interesting. I was definitely focusing on my breath through each noisy interlude. It was very loud. Good luck! I hope you get to the bottom of your headaches. My MRI was to rule out a very unlikely acoustic neuroma and it did but I am still trying to find a cause. I hope yours is negative and helps your doctors give you a solution for your headaches. Mysterious ailments which cannnot be figured out by doctors are the pits!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it, and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.

-Ann Landers
 
I undressed from the waist up and wore jeans under a hospital gown. I asked if rivets were ok. They were. They did want to be sure there was no metal on my body. It was actually rather interesting once it was over. :)
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it, and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.

-Ann Landers
 
Jes,

I'm sorry your headaches haven't gotten better. I've never had an MRI but I just wanted to say I'm thinking about you, and "wishin, hopein and prayin" for a simple answer for you!

Keep us informed!

Nadine

~~Happiness is an Attitude~~
 
thanks ladies. i appreciate all your responses. the support around here is great!

bobbi: what is tinnitus? i am not sure what is cauing my headaches, but i don't believe them to be migrans, although i get those on occasion. these headaches are different. migrane meds don't touch them. nothing does really. i have tried everything. heat helps some and sleep is about the only thing that relieves it. it is great pressure in my whole head and neck. sounds like tension, but i'm not tense about anything. i had my sinuses xrayed a few weeks ago, but they are not the problem according to the xray. i am also going to have an eye exam, but i see fine and have never had a problem, so i doubt that is it. i had one of these headaches for several days strait before my xray, but the past 2 weeks i get one everyday and it lasts several hours and then goes away. very strange.

blah, blah, blah. sorry for rambling!

jes
 
I had an MRI for a headache (lasted weeks, and felt like an axeblade stuck in my head!). They found nothing (well, some brains, I hope!). And my headache was helped by my chiropractor (I had some discs out of alignment).

When I was in the machine, I closed my eyes, and tried to make something musical out of the tapping and pounding. To me, it sounded kind of like a woodpecker, so that's what I imagined!
 
I had an MRI once. Since I was so nervous about it, my doctor's office found an open MRI place for me. They have machines that are not fully enclosed. You should ask your doctor's office to find you one of those. I have to admit, I could have easily went to sleep in there. Good Luck!!!
 
Jes, tinnitus is ringing in the ears, or my case, a loud tone. It's making me bonkers and unable to sleep. TMJ or D, depending on who you ask, could be the culprit. I have been going down the list of therapies and causes. It's uncurable and very mysterious and doctors can actually increase headaches since so far they've done nothing but take money and waste time. But I am in good spirits at last, tense little head and all. :) I am sure my PC thinks of me as the pest. I am determined to get it under control. If you are tight through the jaw, back of the head or neck, it's possible you don't realize it. I am tightly wound so tension is familiar. It may just have gotten to be too much. It can be caused from anything like a car accident to dental work. These mystery maladies are maddening! I hope you find a solution. I know it's frustrating to searh and not find. I'm off to the next, and hopefully last, specialist next week. I should post a inquiry about TMD/TMJ. Catheites have so much information about so many things that come up in life. :)
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it, and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.

-Ann Landers
 
I had one once - wouldn't do it again without a sedative. They offered me one, but I turned it down. I had no idea I was severely claustrophobic until I got inside that machine, and they closed in the sides so that I couldn't even wiggle a finger. It's not painful, but, besides dealing with the claustrophobia, the clicking noises were very loud. I'd take Valium, or whatever they offer, and relax. Or try to get into one of the open machines.
 
Hi Jess! I had an open MRI on my knee a year ago and it was nothing. (except the loud pinging noises that didn't bother me at all.) I am sure the head is a different story being enclosed. I just wanted to wish you the best and also hope that they find out quickly what is causing your headaches. I will say extra prayers for you. When do you go? Keep us posted.
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie")http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
Hi Bobbi!

I feel bad I haven't kept in touch with you but have thought of you quite often and wondering how you are doing. Somehow, you saying that you are in good sprits right now does NOT surprise me at all. You are amazing. A big, big hope that this next specialist can help. Let us know. Hugs to you!

Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie")http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
RE: Hi, Debbie!

One thing you have to love about humans, we are highly adaptive. There are so many things much worse than tinnitus. Plus, I do LOTS of yoga! :) I think I may be onto something with my TMD theory. A little light went off in my head. Now, the trick is to get my insurance company to pay for treatment. I have an appointment next week so I am hoping too that I'll find the fix and put this behind me. In the meantime, I am feeling pretty darn good. Who has time to be miserable indefinitely? Besides the yoga, I have done Low Max and High Step Challenge and I am excited to try the others. I love Low Max! I have previewed all of them and have Kick Max on the agenda next. It's good to chat with you, Den Mother! Hugs right back at you!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it, and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.

-Ann Landers
 
I have had several head MRI's. Whether or not you have to get an IV (contrast dye) depends on what they are looking for. I did have to get an IV and the dye made my arm numb after awhile, but it wasn't too bad. The noise was louder than I expected and it felt like my body was vibrating with the clicks. Weird, but not painful.

I hope everything works out well for you.

Linda
 
I had an MRI done last year and was given Xanax to relax. It wasn't bad at all because I was given an eye mask and listened to country music. Plus, I had to go at 1:30 a.m., so I was tired anyway.
Patti
 
Jes, I missed this post!! Wow!! When will you be going??

And where is your post about having to get a witness?

Lost in the land of confusion,
Sandra
 

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